A contractor hired to remove asbestos from a Philadelphia-area elementary school faces a potential sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine after pleading guilty on June 11th to a criminal violation of the Clean Air Act for failure to properly remove the asbestos from the building.

According to an Associated Press article, Branko Lazic, who owns Bilaz Inc., was hired to remove asbestos from Mattison Elementary School in Ambler, a suburb of Philadelphia, in June 2002. He is accused of leaving the school while the work was being done, though he admitted to knowing that it was unlikely the work would proceed in a proper manner while he was away from the building.

Prosecutors state that the school’s staff, including teachers and janitors, had to remove a coating of white dust from furniture, books, and other items before the start of the next year. Most were unaware that the dust came from asbestos material found throughout the school.

This violation of the Clear Air Act may result not only in imprisonment and a fine for Lazic, but he will probably also be ordered to pay restitution to the school. Sentencing is set for later this month.

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